PARIS — Andy Murray is hoping his first title in three years shall be platform to construct on after “a bit of a struggle” over the past 18 months.

With the French Open looming, Murray received an ATP Challenger occasion in southern France over the weekend for his first match victory since 2019 - and first on clay since 2016.

Murray received the second-tier occasion in Aix-en-Provence by defeating Seventeenth-ranked Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 within the remaining on Sunday.

“This last year, 18 months has been a bit of struggle with my game,” Murray stated. “But (my team) have been there supporting me and working with me to try and get better. We keep going from here.”

Murray, a former top-ranked participant with three Grand Slam titles, claimed his first match victory since successful in Antwerp again in 2019.

His earlier title on clay was the 2016 Rome Masters.

It was Murray’s third challenger title and first since 2005. According to the tour, the hole of 17 years and eight months between challenger titles was the longest ever.

Murray climbed to No. 42 within the ATP rankings launched Monday, his highest since coming back from two hip operations in 2018 and 2019.

The French Open begins on May 28.

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